Copenhagen households pay DKK 54.93 per cubic metre for water and wastewater in 2026, including taxes and VAT, according to the figures presented when the city approved the tariffs on 24 February 2026. That is 13% more than the DKK 43.91 charged in 2025.
The water component did most of the work
HOFOR's own water price rose 41% to DKK 20.04 per cubic metre, while its wastewater charge rose 4% to DKK 22.63. The city's approval papers link the water increase to recovering investment in central softening in the same year, rather than two years later. Between 2021 and 2025 the combined price had moved only between DKK 38.96 and DKK 43.91.
Two official figures for one year
HOFOR's own price page gives a lower 2026 combined price of DKK 49.57, built from a water tariff of DKK 12.93, a state levy of DKK 6.37 and a wastewater charge of DKK 20.35. The utility's annual report shows the same DKK 49.57 as a forecast. The two sets of figures do not reconcile.
The council checks legality, not levels
The boards of HOFOR's Copenhagen water and wastewater companies fixed the tariffs on 3 December 2025, within revenue caps set by the national regulator. The city's committee approved them on 24 February 2026 as a legality check only.
The next pressure comes from treatment
BIOFOS, which treats Copenhagen's wastewater, faces a DKK 26.5 billion to DKK 27.1 billion rebuild, with a principle decision due on 13 November 2026. It projects its treatment charge rising from 22% of HOFOR's Copenhagen price in 2026 to 36% by 2043.
Who runs Copenhagen's water, where its groundwater comes from, which projects are under way and what to watch next are set out in the report, along with HOFOR's 11% supply buffer and its 2040 shortfall forecast. The full report, Copenhagen City Intelligence Profile, is available for USD 99. For a free overview, see Copenhagen City Snapshot.